State Department awards $13.6M contract for administrative management and general consulting services to Alutiiq Information Management, LLC

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $13,631,688 ($13.6M)

Contractor: Alutiiq Information Management, LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of State

Start Date: 2021-04-15

End Date: 2025-04-14

Contract Duration: 1,460 days

Daily Burn Rate: $9.3K/day

Competition Type: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS

Sector: Other

Official Description: GEC PERSONNEL SUPPORT TO

Place of Performance

Location: ANCHORAGE, ANCHORAGE County, ALASKA, 99503

State: Alaska Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of State obligated $13.6 million to ALUTIIQ INFORMATION MANAGEMENT, LLC for work described as: GEC PERSONNEL SUPPORT TO Key points: 1. Contract awarded on a sole-source basis, limiting price competition. 2. Significant duration of 1460 days suggests a long-term need for these services. 3. The contract type is labor hours, which can be susceptible to cost overruns if not managed carefully. 4. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 541611 indicates a focus on management consulting. 5. The awardee, Alutiiq Information Management, LLC, is a known entity in government contracting. 6. The contract is a delivery order, implying it's part of a larger indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) vehicle.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

Benchmarking the value of this contract is challenging without access to the specific IDIQ vehicle it falls under or comparable sole-source awards. The total value of $13.6 million over four years averages to approximately $3.4 million annually. Without details on the scope of services and deliverables, it's difficult to assess if this represents a competitive price. The labor hours contract type means costs are directly tied to personnel time, necessitating robust oversight to ensure efficiency and prevent scope creep.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was awarded on a sole-source basis, meaning it was not openly competed. This typically occurs when a specific contractor is deemed uniquely qualified or when circumstances necessitate a rapid award. The lack of competition means that the government did not benefit from the price discovery that typically occurs in a full and open competition, potentially leading to higher costs.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers may not have received the best possible price due to the absence of competitive bidding. The justification for a sole-source award needs to be thoroughly reviewed to ensure it was appropriate and that the public interest was served.

Public Impact

The Department of State benefits from specialized administrative and management consulting services. These services likely support the operational efficiency and effectiveness of the agency. The contract's impact is primarily internal to the Department of State's administrative functions. The workforce implications are related to the personnel employed by Alutiiq Information Management, LLC, to fulfill the contract.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Sole-source award limits competitive pricing, potentially increasing costs for taxpayers.
Labor hours contract type requires diligent oversight to control costs and prevent inefficiencies.
Lack of detailed performance metrics in the provided data makes it difficult to assess service quality.
The specific nature of 'administrative management and general management consulting services' is broad and could encompass a wide range of activities, making oversight complex.

Positive Signals

Award to Alutiiq Information Management, LLC, suggests a contractor with existing capabilities and potentially a past performance record with the government.
The contract duration indicates a stable, long-term need, suggesting the services are valued by the agency.
The contract is a delivery order, which implies it is part of a pre-competed IDIQ contract, potentially offering some level of pre-negotiated terms.

Sector Analysis

The administrative management and general management consulting services sector is a significant part of the professional services industry. Companies in this sector provide expertise to government agencies and private businesses to improve efficiency, strategy, and operations. Government spending in this area is substantial, supporting a wide range of functions from human resources to strategic planning. This contract fits within the broader category of professional services procured by federal agencies to augment their internal capabilities.

Small Business Impact

The provided data indicates that this contract was not awarded to a small business (ss: false) and does not appear to have a small business set-aside component (sb: false). Therefore, there are no direct subcontracting implications for small businesses stemming from this specific award. The primary contractor, Alutiiq Information Management, LLC, is responsible for fulfilling the contract requirements, and any subcontracting decisions would be at their discretion, not mandated by a small business set-aside.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily reside with the Department of State's contracting officers and program managers. As a delivery order under an IDIQ, the underlying IDIQ vehicle likely has its own oversight mechanisms. Transparency is limited by the sole-source nature of the award and the lack of publicly available performance reports. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse is suspected.

Related Government Programs

Professional Services Schedule (PSS)
Management and Consulting Services Contracts
Department of State Administrative Support Contracts

Risk Flags

Sole-source award may indicate limited competition, potentially impacting value for money.
Labor hours contract type requires diligent oversight to manage costs effectively.
Lack of detailed performance metrics hinders assessment of service quality and effectiveness.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of State awarded $13.6 million to ALUTIIQ INFORMATION MANAGEMENT, LLC. GEC PERSONNEL SUPPORT TO

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is ALUTIIQ INFORMATION MANAGEMENT, LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of State (Department of State).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $13.6 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2021-04-15. End: 2025-04-14.

What is the specific scope of work for these administrative and management consulting services?

The provided data only specifies the NAICS code (541611) for Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services. A detailed scope of work would typically be outlined in the contract's statement of work (SOW) or performance work statement (PWS). This document would specify the exact tasks, deliverables, timelines, and performance standards expected from Alutiiq Information Management, LLC. Without the SOW/PWS, it is impossible to determine the precise nature of the services, such as whether they involve strategic planning, organizational analysis, process improvement, policy development, or general administrative support.

What is the justification for the sole-source award?

Sole-source awards are typically justified under specific circumstances outlined in federal acquisition regulations (FAR). Common justifications include that the property or services are available only from a single responsible source, or that an exceptional need exists. For this contract, the justification would need to be documented by the Department of State. Potential reasons could include the unique capabilities of Alutiiq Information Management, LLC, a critical need for continuity of services from an incumbent contractor, or a specific requirement that only this contractor can fulfill due to proprietary knowledge or specialized equipment. The specific justification is crucial for understanding why competition was bypassed.

How does the labor hours contract type impact cost control and oversight?

A labor hours contract type means the government pays for the direct labor hours expended by the contractor at specified fixed hourly rates, plus applicable overhead, G&A, and profit. This type of contract is often used when the extent or duration of the work cannot be determined in advance. While it offers flexibility, it places a significant emphasis on robust government oversight. The contracting officer's representative (COR) must diligently monitor the hours worked, ensure personnel are performing assigned tasks efficiently, and verify that the work aligns with the contract's objectives. Without strict oversight, labor hours contracts can be susceptible to cost overruns if hours are not managed effectively or if scope creep occurs.

What is the past performance record of Alutiiq Information Management, LLC, particularly with the Department of State?

Information regarding Alutiiq Information Management, LLC's past performance is not detailed in the provided data. However, as a recipient of a multi-million dollar contract, it is likely that the company has a track record of performance with government agencies. A thorough review would involve examining contract databases (like the Federal Procurement Data System - FPDS) for previous awards, contract performance evaluations (CPARS), and any publicly available information on their project history. Understanding their performance on similar contracts, especially with the Department of State, would provide insight into their reliability, quality of service, and ability to manage complex projects within budget and schedule.

What is the total spending on administrative and management consulting services by the Department of State over the past five years?

To determine the total spending on administrative and management consulting services by the Department of State over the past five years, one would need to query federal procurement databases such as the Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS) or USAspending.gov. This would involve filtering by the Department of State as the procuring agency and using relevant NAICS codes (like 541611) or contract descriptions. Such an analysis would reveal trends in spending, identify major contractors in this space, and provide context for the $13.6 million award, indicating whether this represents an increase, decrease, or stable level of investment in these services.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services › Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services

Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS (Z)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 300 ALIMAQ DR, KODIAK, AK, 99615

Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, Alaskan Native Corporation Owned Firm, Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, HUBZone Firm, Limited Liability Corporation, Minority Owned Business, Native American Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, Tribally Owned Firm, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $26,395,203

Exercised Options: $20,214,123

Current Obligation: $13,631,688

Actual Outlays: $6,966,458

Contract Characteristics

Multi-Year Contract: Yes

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: YES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 19AQMM18D0001

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline